In the nation of Yunmeng, within the Drunken Immortal Tower. Chu Hao took a deep breath, his heart's astonishment settling back to tranquility.
"It seems I am not dreaming, but have truly reincarnated into this body. It's a pity this form has but three days left to live".
Suddenly, the chamber door was violently flung open by someone, revealing a burly, middle-aged man, radiating arrogance and disdain.
"Are you Chu Hao? Brother of Chu Ling'er? Your sister has met with misfortune, and my master bids me seek you. Follow me".
The man spat out a torrent of words, his tone imperious and commanding.
"Hmph?"
Chu Hao's gaze turned as cold as glacial ice, and in that instant, a chilling aura of killing intent erupted, sweeping towards the grim-faced man like a raging tempest.
He started, goosebumps prickling his entire body.
"Is this brat truly only a third-stage Qi Refinement cultivator?"
Even as terror gripped him, Chu Hao exhaled a breath, his killing intent receding.
"Lead the way".
Chu Hao spoke, his voice seemingly calm, yet it carried the stillness before a brewing storm.
"Chu Ling'er, the debt scroll remains in my grasp. You must repay it with primordial stones, else dream not of stepping foot outside this place!"
Manager Li Ming glared at Chu Ling'er, his voice grating.
Before the manager stood a maiden of eighteen, possessing delicate beauty, yet her countenance was etched with weariness, as if from unceasing toil.
"Li Ming, I considered you a friend, yet you have entrapped me. Do you feel no shame?"
Chu Ling'er's soft voice resonated, imbued with a rare indignation.
"Don't speak to me so. Blame only yourself for desiring to ascend to Young Master Wen Bing's side. Truly, a jest!"
"Wen Bing! So it was for him!"
Wen Bing was a youth barely past twenty, the most outstanding talent of the Wen clan, a Grandmaster Realm cultivator at such a tender age.
He was even recognized as one of the prominent heroes in Jade City.
Chu Ling'er and Wen Bing were originally strangers, but once, when Wen Bing attended a feast at the Drunken Immortal Tower, he set his gaze upon her.
From that moment forth, he relentlessly pursued Chu Ling'er, clearly coveting her exquisite beauty.
But against Wen Bing's entreaties, Chu Ling'er refused him time and again, unshaken by whatever conditions Wen Bing offered.
Only now did she recall that Li Ming had sought her not long after her latest refusal to Wen Bing.
Such a coincidence was clearly a deliberate contrivance.
"Chu Ling'er, this is Young Master Zhao Feng, your creditor. If you cannot repay with primordial stones, then you must pay with a night with Zhao Feng. Not only will your debt be erased, but Young Master Zhao Feng here might even grant you a generous tip".
"Dream on!"
Chu Ling'er's body trembled, she bit her teeth until they nearly bled.
She knew this Zhao Feng, another libertine who coveted her beauty, and had troubled her several times before.
"Chu Ling'er, you don't need to feign strength. I have already sent someone to fetch your dying younger brother. I know the poison within him cannot endure sunlight, else it will boil and roast your brother from within. Wait until he arrives, then dare you witness him in heart-wrenching agony?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ling'er felt as though a blade had pierced her weakness.
Just as Li Ming stated, the toxin within Chu Hao would boil upon exposure to sunlight. The thought of Chu Hao suffering miserably from the poison constricted her heart.
"Choose quickly, Chu Ling'er, for time is running short".
Li Ming pressed on, his demeanor aggressive, driving Chu Ling'er to despair.
She did not wish to fall into Zhao Feng's hands, yet she desired even less for Chu Hao to suffer.
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside, someone was approaching.
It was Chu Hao!
He ambled forth, his complexion still pallid like that of a dying patient.
"Here he is, brat. You have finally arrived".
Li Ming mocked.
"Little brother, you go back first. Allow me to handle this".
Gazing at the girl before him, clearly trembling yet striving for a façade of resilience, memories surfaced in Chu Hao's mind.
Many years ago, he had been a Celestial Venerable Realm cultivator, yet so powerful that he could contend with Divine Realm beings without defeat.
This battle record had enshrined him as the "closest to a God".
Indeed, he could have advanced further, becoming a supreme Divine Spirit existence.
However, he had perished, dying due to his own curiosity, a curiosity for forbidden secrets.
Yet, unexpectedly, he had been reborn, reborn into the body of a young man bearing his own name, Chu Hao.
And Chu Ling'er was Chu Hao's elder sister, caring for him and shoulder his burdens at all times. Even the debt of primordial stones was incurred because she had used them to purchase Profound Ice Herbs to soothe the poison within him.
Li Ming had initially readily granted her the loan, claiming it could be repaid at any time, but immediately thereafter revealed his true colors.
Alas, the former Chu Hao had still succumbed to the poison and died.
Chu Hao did not heed Chu Ling'er's advice, merely casting a cold glance at Zhao Feng and Li Ming.
"Speak. What do you desire to release my sister?"
Zhao Feng hurriedly spoke.
"Simple. Let your sister accompany me".
"You are unworthy".
Chu Hao replied with words brimming with disdain.
Chu Ling'er's eyes widened in surprise. She had lived with her younger brother for a long time and vaguely sensed that the Chu Hao of today was different from his usual self.
"Don't worry, sister. Leave everything to me".
Chu Hao knew Chu Ling'er's worries, but he was no longer the Chu Hao of old.
"I... I unworthy? Well said, brat. You have successfully provoked my wrath! You say to leave everything to yourself, but what can you do?"
"A mere glance reveals you possess no primordial stones. I shall give you two choices: if you can defeat me, I shall erase the debt. But if you dare not..."
"Then cripple one of your own arms!"